Land Rover's 2015 Discovery Sport to make North American debut at LA Auto Show in November

The ever-expanding world of luxury compact crossovers got a new member Tuesday afternoon, as Land Rover announced its all-new 2015 Discovery Sport.

The tidy SUV will be the first of several vehicles Land Rover will sell under the family-oriented Discovery sub-brand. This strategy is similar to how the automaker currently sells high-end SUVs and crossovers under the Range Rover nameplate.

Caption2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport

Land Rover

Land Rover's 2015 Discovery Sport will start at $38,920 and will come with a 240-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, all-wheel-drive, and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Land Rover's 2015 Discovery Sport will start at $38,920 and will come with a 240-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, all-wheel-drive, and a nine-speed automatic transmission. (Land Rover)

The all-wheel-drive Discovery Sport will replace the slow-selling LR2 when it goes on sale in early 2015, and will make its North American debut at the 2014 L.A. Auto Show in November. It will come with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and will offer seating for five adults plus two children.

"The launch of the Discovery Sport is a pivotal moment in the 66-year history of Land Rover," said Phil Popham, marketing director for Jaguar/Land Rover. "Not only does it mark the introduction of the first new member of our expanding Discovery family, it also brings the versatility of five-plus-two seating to the compact premium SUV market."

Land Rover’s Discovery Sport is one of many all-new models crowding the segment, one of the fastest-growing in the automotive industry. Empty-nesters and younger, first-time luxury buyers alike are flocking to upmarket crossovers for their added practicality in a manageable size.

Brands like Lincoln, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus and Porsche have all taken notice and are bringing new models to market. They’ll join models already available from BMW, Mercedes, Acura, Infiniti and Cadillac.

The Discovery Sport will start at $38,920. It comes standard with the same drivetrain as the Range Rover Evoque: a 240-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

When the Discovery Sport begins selling in March 2015, Land Rover is hoping it will be more popular than the LR2 it replaces. That outdated vehicle sold just 3,315 copies in 2013, thanks to significantly stronger competition from luxury rivals.

Sitting on the deck of the aircraft carrier Intrepid in Manhattan on Monday night, Land Rover’s Discovery Concept SUV previewed much more than just a future vehicle from the historically British brand.

For America's rich and famous, the Lincoln Continental once was the last word in automotive luxury. From the 1940s through the Cold War, the elegant sedan was a staple at Hollywood premieres and presidential motorcades.

The gig: Johnny Green directs TV commercials. A recent project is "Lightning in a Bottle," a 60-second advertisement for Honda's Acura ILX sedan that first aired during the NFL playoffs. Green is represented by Reset Content, a company that acts as his producer.